Ladder.



UNITED STATES HENRY ELMER SKEELS, OF ROCHESTER, NW YORK.

LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1905.

Application led March l2, 1904. Serial Nn- 197,830.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, HENRY ELMER SKEELS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ladders, and more especially to that class of ladders which may be readily converted into an extension-ladder, a step-ladder, or an ordinary ladder, and the objects of said invention are to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device which may be quickly changed from one kind of ladder to another and which will be strong, reliable, and firm when adjusted to serve in any of its various capacities.' j

The most important considerations in a device of this character are simplicity of construction, reliabilty, efficiency, and quick adjustment. I have endeavored to embrace these desirable characteristics in my present invention.

I The preferred form of construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my device arrranged as an extensionladder. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view showing the upper portion of the extension member of the ladder. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the supporting device or hook used to secure the two members 4of the ladder in adjusted position when it is desired to use the device as an extension-ladder. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the ladder with the two members adjusted to form a step-ladder,

parts being broken away to better illustrate the construction. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section of the upper end of the ladder when adjusted to form a step-ladder.

Like numerals designate Vlike parts wherever they occur in the different views of the drawings.

- The main ladder member of my invention consists of the two side uprights 1 1 and the double rungs 2 2a, as best shown in Fig. 4. Near the upper end of the uprights 1 1l keepers 3 are secured, said keepers each being formed of metal and being L-shaped, as shown. These keepers form a guideway for the extension member of the ladder and also serve as braces and stops when the ladder is adjusted as a step-ladder, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The inner or extension member consists of the two uprights 4 4, the rungs 5 5,

and at the top is provided with a platform, which comprises the two brackets 6 6, the outer cross-bar 7, and the central tapered vcross-bar 8. A supporting-hook, Fig. 3, consisting of a hook portion 9, a shank 10, anda tubular bearing portion 11, is mounted to freely swing upon the lower rung 5 of the extension member and is prevented from moving laterally on the rung by the stops 12.

\ When the device'is to be used as an eXtension-ladder, the hook 9 is connected to any one of the rungs 2a, as shown in Fig. 1, the

extension member sliding up between the L- shaped keepers. 3 to the required height.

-When the device is to ybe converted into a .as an ordinary ladder when detached from the main member, and the platform at the top then serves to hold the ladder at a slight distance from the structure against which it is placed, and said platform may be utilized as a table or support for tools or materials.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by means of the veryT simple construction and arrangement of parts I am enabled to provide a very useful device which may be readily converted into various kinds of ladders, and that the device is strong, durable, and eflicient and can be manufactured at slight cost.

While the structure has been minutely described, it will be apparent that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A convertible step-ladder comprising a main and an extension member, the main member provided with double sets of rungs and having keepers, and the extension member having a platform provided with a member to interlock with Vthe double rungs and to to c'oact with the keepers in holding the ladder members operatively connected.

2. A convertible ladder comprising the main member having a double set of rungs and L-shaped braces at the upper end, and

the other member having a platform at the topI said platform Composed of two brackets and cross-bars, the central orossbar being tapered to fit between the double rungs at the top of the main member.

3. A convertible ladder comprising a main and an extension member, the main member provided with double sets of rungs and having keepers, and the extension member having a slatted platform one of the members of which is adapted to fit between the double rungs and coaot with the keepers to hold the two ladder members properlT spaced in use.

4. In a convertible extension and step ladder, a main and an extension member, the

main member provided with double sets of rungs and having keepers, and the extension member having a platform )rovided with a member to interlock with the double rungs when the ladder is adjusted for use as a stepladder, and a hook for holding the ladder members in eoperative relation when the structure is used as an extension-ladder.

ln testimon)7 whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY ELMER SKEELS.

Witnesses:

MATILDA R. MCCORT, FRANK M. GOFF. 

